California Assembly Bill 1358 and Vehicle Code section 42008.7

Beginning January 1, 2012, violators who have old unpaid traffic tickets may be eligible for the Amnesty Program. Certain unpaid traffic tickets are eligible for a 50 percent reduction if the fine is paid within the six-month amnesty period. The Amnesty Program ends June 30, 2012.

The program includes all vehicle code infractions processed in the Traffic Division of the Superior Court.

To qualify for the 50 percent reduction, all of the following conditions must be met:

• You have an outstanding traffic case that was due to be paid in full before January 1, 2009
• You either failed to appear in court or failed to pay in full
• The last date you made a payment was on or before January 1, 2009
• There was no Civil Assessment fee added to your case after January 1, 2009
• You don’t owe restitution to a victim on any case within the county where the traffic case was filed
• You have no outstanding misdemeanor or felony warrants within the county where the traffic case was filed.

If other fees and assessments were added to the original fine, those will also be reduced by 50 percent. Violators must pay off the balance due in one lump sum by cash, check or credit card, on or before June 30, 2012.

To determine program eligibility, please contact the Traffic Court where your case was filed, in-person or by phone, or submit a completed Eligibility Affidavit form by mail. Click here for the Eligibility Affidavit form. 

• Santa Clara Courthouse
  1095 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, CA 95050
  (408) 556-3000 Press 1, 5, then 8
• Palo Alto Courthouse
  270 Grant Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
  (650) 462-3800. Press 7, then 0
• South County Morgan Hill Courthouse
  301 Diana Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
  (408) 695-5000. Press 4, then 8

For more information, please visit the California Courts’ Frequently Asked Questions  webpage or contact one of the court locations listed above.